Project Details
Projekt
Harnessing spatial metabolomic patterns to exploit cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc as productive biofilms
Subject Area
Biological Process Engineering
Term
since 2025
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 559284611
Photoautotrophic cyanobacteria have great potential for the direct conversion of solar energy and CO2 into biofuels and fine chemicals. Terrestrial filamentous cyanobacteria of the genus Nostoc, which form mats and crusts in nature, also show pronounced abilities to passively immobilize on solid surfaces. These multicellular cyanobacteria exhibit a very pronounced phenotypic heterogeneity and form an extensive EPS layer. For many years, the Dittmann research group has been developing the genetically manipulable cyanobacterial strain N. punctiforme PCC 73102 as a model system for the investigation of secondary metabolism. The research group has observed a pronounced temporal and spatial heterogeneity of gene expression and a phenotypic heterogeneity in the formation of the EPS layer. The team uses high-density cultivation of N. punctiforme for the heterologous expression of natural products. The aim of the current project is to further develop the N. punctiforme platform for the expression of valuable fine chemicals. A particular focus is on understanding the role of spatial heterogeneity of gene expression in biofilm consortia for the productivity of Nostoc. To this end, Elke Dittmann's group has joined forces with Nicole Strittmatter's group at the TU Munich, which specialises in spatial metabolomics using ambient mass spectrometry methods. With the help of this partnership, the interdisciplinary team aims to document the existence of spatial heterogeneity in metabolite expression at different scales using an integrated spatial transcriptomics/metabolomics approach. By studying the mechanisms and factors that control spatial patterning, the team aims to develop concepts to increase the productivity of biofilms. The development of workflows for the standardized and quantitative analysis of biofilms using spatial metabolomics will be an essential part of achieving this goal. In addition to established high-density cultivation, immobilization on carriers and material-supported biofilm growth will be tested to enable 3D cultivation of Nostoc. The aim of the project is to introduce and develop a promising biological system that has great potential for development as a productive biofilm platform, and to provide expertise and a toolkit that can play a central role in the priority program. In doing so, we expect to achieve a wide range of synergies with projects that also deal with cyanobacteria and their biofilm photobioreactors, which use material-based approaches for biofilm growth, as well as with projects that study spatial patterning in mono- and multi-species biofilms.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
Subproject of
SPP 2494:
Productive Biofilm Systems
